George Washington, February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799, was an independent politician, that was chosen to be the first President by a unanimous decision of 69 votes in 1788, and was put in office on April 30, 1789. His first and second term lasted eight years and ended on March 4, 1797, John Adams being his Vice President throughout both terms.(List of Presidents) Washington, earning a B on his service as President, made sure that the United States of America was preserved in its new ways all while radically redesigning the goals of the USA as a whole. As he had demonstrated his restraint during the war in Europe, 1793 - 1815, Washington refused to be apart of it, and even signed a treaty with Great Britain. The only reason George did not earn an A on his service is because the treaty angered the French and deteriorated the relationship recently formed.(George Washington) Surprisingly, the only goals Washington made were to maintain the new government under the new constitution of the United States of America and keep their new found freedom.(George Washington’s Inaugural Address) He does this in two ways: staying out of a war that was not his and refusing to be referred to as a king. Washington became extremely successful in this endeavor by signing a treaty that kept the British out of the America’s. Jay’s Treaty, signed on November 19, 1794, marked a turning point in American trade; it aloud Americans to make business with the British West Indies colonies.(George Washington) A healthy relationship between the congress and the president is needed in a successful government, and is achieved in Washington’s campaign in innumerable ways. While in office for eight years, he only vetoed two bills that were presented to him.(Papers of George) These bills both tried to amend the constitution more than it already had been and would have been unacceptable if passed. Otherwise the congress and he did not disagree in any other way. Many of Washington’s decisions were influenced by his cabinet and the congress. However the most influential and beneficial decision he made was the Jay Treaty, which initiated prosperous trade with Great Britain for many years to come. This treaty even marked the end of the British owned forts in the western parts of the America’s. Without this treaty the war in Europe may have reached the colonies, leading to many casualties on American soil. However he did make mistakes that would ultimately lead to malicious outcomes: Whiskey Rebellion.(George Washington) In the year 1791, congress imposed a high tax on distilled liquors, especially enraging those from the Pennsylvania area. Around 1794 these men had formed a large rebellion, to small for the federal government to handle. With quick thinking Washington was able to rally the forces of the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey militias to march on the rebellious areas. While there was no fighting, this still could have lead to a disastrous outcome, and he is lucky it had not.(George Washington) The presidential administration had caused the new found ally, France, to cut ties with America due to one treaty, signed near the end of Washington’s campaign. While this treaty was still prosperous, it still managed to cause the unimaginable idea of another war with France, leaving John Adams, our second president, with the incomprehensible duty of staying out of war.(George Washington) Ultimately this is one of the only reasons George Washington was unable to receive an A. George Washington, one of the Founding Fathers and an icon to today’s society, managed to take a country recently plunged into chaos, and turn it into one of the super world powers, all through one treaty and quick thinking. This country was truly influenced by his term in office, and was better off after he was done with it. George Washington deserves his superb B ranking.
Bibliography "List of Presidents of the United States." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Feb. 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2013. "George Washington's Inaugural Address." First Inaugural Address. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2013. "George Washington." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Mar. 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2013. "Papers of George Washington." Papers of George Washington. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2013.
Surprisingly, the only goals Washington made were to maintain the new government under the new constitution of the United States of America and keep their new found freedom.(George Washington’s Inaugural Address) He does this in two ways: staying out of a war that was not his and refusing to be referred to as a king. Washington became extremely successful in this endeavor by signing a treaty that kept the British out of the America’s. Jay’s Treaty, signed on November 19, 1794, marked a turning point in American trade; it aloud Americans to make business with the British West Indies colonies.(George Washington)
A healthy relationship between the congress and the president is needed in a successful government, and is achieved in Washington’s campaign in innumerable ways. While in office for eight years, he only vetoed two bills that were presented to him.(Papers of George) These bills both tried to amend the constitution more than it already had been and would have been unacceptable if passed. Otherwise the congress and he did not disagree in any other way.
Many of Washington’s decisions were influenced by his cabinet and the congress. However the most influential and beneficial decision he made was the Jay Treaty, which initiated prosperous trade with Great Britain for many years to come. This treaty even marked the end of the British owned forts in the western parts of the America’s. Without this treaty the war in Europe may have reached the colonies, leading to many casualties on American soil. However he did make mistakes that would ultimately lead to malicious outcomes: Whiskey Rebellion.(George Washington) In the year 1791, congress imposed a high tax on distilled liquors, especially enraging those from the Pennsylvania area. Around 1794 these men had formed a large rebellion, to small for the federal government to handle. With quick thinking Washington was able to rally the forces of the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey militias to march on the rebellious areas. While there was no fighting, this still could have lead to a disastrous outcome, and he is lucky it had not.(George Washington)
The presidential administration had caused the new found ally, France, to cut ties with America due to one treaty, signed near the end of Washington’s campaign. While this treaty was still prosperous, it still managed to cause the unimaginable idea of another war with France, leaving John Adams, our second president, with the incomprehensible duty of staying out of war.(George Washington) Ultimately this is one of the only reasons George Washington was unable to receive an A.
George Washington, one of the Founding Fathers and an icon to today’s society, managed to take a country recently plunged into chaos, and turn it into one of the super world powers, all through one treaty and quick thinking. This country was truly influenced by his term in office, and was better off after he was done with it. George Washington deserves his superb B ranking.
Bibliography
"List of Presidents of the United States." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Feb. 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2013.
"George Washington's Inaugural Address." First Inaugural Address. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2013.
"George Washington." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Mar. 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2013.
"Papers of George Washington." Papers of George Washington. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2013.